Government
Charlie Crist Passes Up Insiders, Taps Brown and Balbis for PSC
Around the State
Despite lawmakers’ rejection of two earlier Public Service Commission nominees for lacking experience in the field, on Tuesday Gov. Charlie Crist continued a move to put outsiders on the panel, appointing West Palm Beach city official Eduardo Balbis and former city of Tampa attorney Julie Brown to the commission.
Crist again overlooked Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, who had been chairman of the PSC Nominating Council until he became candidate for the commission himself, and former PSC Executive Director Mary Bane, who led the agency's full-time staff from 2002-2009.
The pair, both extensively familiar with the telecommunications and utility industries regulated by the commission, had been finalists twice. Crist also bypassed a former Missouri public service commissioner; a Florida Senate Communications, Energy & Utilities Committee legislative analyst, and rejected an engineer who previously worked for Progress Energy, the state's second largest electric utility.
Leaving the commission in January are two commissioners often seen as maverick outsiders – Nancy Argenziano and Nathan Skop – both appointed by Crist back in 2007 but denied a chance to be renamed by the legislatively-appointed nominating commission that vets and sends Crist candidates.
Crist is in an ongoing battle with the Legislature over the makeup of the PSC – with the governor generally seen as more hostile to an industry agenda, and has been open about his desire to put people on the panel he thinks would be more likely to challenge the companies it regulates. Argenziano and Skop were two such commissioners, both disliked by many industry insiders. In fact, the state’s largest utility, Florida Power & Light, has tried to get Skop excluded from its cases for the rest of his term, citing what it says is his bias against the company, and Argenziano has been openly antagonistic to the industry on occasion.
Having been denied the opportunity to reappoint Argenziano and Skop, Crist sent a message that he still wants outsiders, turning to Brown, 35, and Balbis, 38, who he said were experienced enough to serve on the PSC, though neither has worked in electric, telephone or water industries that are overseen by the panel.
“Julie understands the fairness and judgment that must be exercised by Public Service commissioners,” Crist said in a statement announcing the selections. “Her past experience ensuring real estate agreements comply with all regulations, as well as reviewing proposed changes to historic properties as a member of a zoning board, have provided her valuable insight into the needs of Florida consumers.
“Eduardo’s duties overseeing municipal utilities and public works during the past three years have already given him the opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to protecting consumers,” he said of Balbis. “As an engineer, he also understands the importance of safeguarding Florida’s freshwater supply.”
Balbis and Brown are Crist’s fifth and sixth PSC nominations since he ousted two sitting commissioners last year. Earlier this year Crist appointed Art Graham and Ronald Brisé to the commission.
Balbis and Brown will start in January, but will still need to be confirmed sometime in the next two years by the Senate, which has clashed with Crist over previous appointments.
Two 2009 Crist appointees, David Klement and Benjamin Stevens, who also fit the outsider mold, were rejected by the Senate. Both had voted against large rate increases for FPL and Progress Energy, the state’s two largest electric utilities, and critics said their failure to win Senate confirmation was linked to that.
Senators, however, cited other concerns – particularly about Klement and Stevens' lack of work experience in the fields that are regulated by the PSC. Klement had a background in journalism, while Stevens is an accountant.
Lawmakers also said they were bothered by the creation of an all-white panel after Crist decided not to reappoint former Chairman Matthew Carter, who is African-American.
Crist responded to the diversity concerns by tapping Brisé and Graham, who are both black.
Crist again overlooked Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, who had been chairman of the PSC Nominating Council until he became candidate for the commission himself, and former PSC Executive Director Mary Bane, who led the agency's full-time staff from 2002-2009.
The pair, both extensively familiar with the telecommunications and utility industries regulated by the commission, had been finalists twice. Crist also bypassed a former Missouri public service commissioner; a Florida Senate Communications, Energy & Utilities Committee legislative analyst, and rejected an engineer who previously worked for Progress Energy, the state's second largest electric utility.
Leaving the commission in January are two commissioners often seen as maverick outsiders – Nancy Argenziano and Nathan Skop – both appointed by Crist back in 2007 but denied a chance to be renamed by the legislatively-appointed nominating commission that vets and sends Crist candidates.
Crist is in an ongoing battle with the Legislature over the makeup of the PSC – with the governor generally seen as more hostile to an industry agenda, and has been open about his desire to put people on the panel he thinks would be more likely to challenge the companies it regulates. Argenziano and Skop were two such commissioners, both disliked by many industry insiders. In fact, the state’s largest utility, Florida Power & Light, has tried to get Skop excluded from its cases for the rest of his term, citing what it says is his bias against the company, and Argenziano has been openly antagonistic to the industry on occasion.
Having been denied the opportunity to reappoint Argenziano and Skop, Crist sent a message that he still wants outsiders, turning to Brown, 35, and Balbis, 38, who he said were experienced enough to serve on the PSC, though neither has worked in electric, telephone or water industries that are overseen by the panel.
“Julie understands the fairness and judgment that must be exercised by Public Service commissioners,” Crist said in a statement announcing the selections. “Her past experience ensuring real estate agreements comply with all regulations, as well as reviewing proposed changes to historic properties as a member of a zoning board, have provided her valuable insight into the needs of Florida consumers.
“Eduardo’s duties overseeing municipal utilities and public works during the past three years have already given him the opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to protecting consumers,” he said of Balbis. “As an engineer, he also understands the importance of safeguarding Florida’s freshwater supply.”
Balbis and Brown are Crist’s fifth and sixth PSC nominations since he ousted two sitting commissioners last year. Earlier this year Crist appointed Art Graham and Ronald Brisé to the commission.
Balbis and Brown will start in January, but will still need to be confirmed sometime in the next two years by the Senate, which has clashed with Crist over previous appointments.
Two 2009 Crist appointees, David Klement and Benjamin Stevens, who also fit the outsider mold, were rejected by the Senate. Both had voted against large rate increases for FPL and Progress Energy, the state’s two largest electric utilities, and critics said their failure to win Senate confirmation was linked to that.
Senators, however, cited other concerns – particularly about Klement and Stevens' lack of work experience in the fields that are regulated by the PSC. Klement had a background in journalism, while Stevens is an accountant.
Lawmakers also said they were bothered by the creation of an all-white panel after Crist decided not to reappoint former Chairman Matthew Carter, who is African-American.
Crist responded to the diversity concerns by tapping Brisé and Graham, who are both black.
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